Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealkocher’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duealkocher’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large cherry red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEALKOCHER’.

CROSS REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Calibrachoa Plant Named ‘DUEALCHER’

Applicant: Tobias Dümmen

Filed: Concurrently with this application, U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 13/987,099

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duealkocher’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa plants with largeattractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2010 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-0840-002, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofCalibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-6445-002, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this newCalibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duealkocher’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duealkocher’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and        decumbent plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large cherry red-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe female parent selection in branching habit as plants of the newCalibrachoa are more freely branching than plants of the female parentselection. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa and the femaleparent selection differ slightly in flower color.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in flower form as plants of the male parentselection have double-type flowers. In addition, plants of the newCalibrachoa flower earlier than plants of the male parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of Calibrachoa‘Duealcher’, filed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,099concurrently with this application. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differprimarily from plants of ‘Duealcher’ in plant habit as plants of the newCalibrachoa are more compact than plants of ‘Duealcher’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoasp. ‘Cal Britreeda’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,828. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differedprimarily from plants of ‘Cal Britreeda’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than plants        of ‘Cal Britreeda’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had shorter internodes than        plants of ‘Cal Britreeda’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger leaves than plants        of ‘Cal Britreeda’.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants        of ‘Cal Britreeda’.    -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger sepals than plants        of ‘Cal Britreeda’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Duealkocher’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany under culturalpractices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched onetime three weeks after planting and plants were 13 weeks old when thephotograph and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealkocher’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-0840-002, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-6445-002, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright to outwardly            spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely            branching habit with about 45 to 50 lateral branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances branching; vigorous            growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 17.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 49 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 18.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing            and decumbent.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A;            venation, close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 137C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 250 to 300 flowers developing per plant; flowers face            upright or outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about four            to five weeks after planting; plants flower continuously            from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.8 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 1.8 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 4.4 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 71A and 145B.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 2.1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.1 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Mostly rounded. Petal margin:            Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:            Close to 53A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to            186A. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 53B;            venation, close to 53A; color becoming closer to 61A with            development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to            186B; venation, close to 186A. Throat: Close to 153A;            venation, close to 79A. Tube: Close to 145A; venation, close            to 79A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;            sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.8 cm. Sepal            width: About 4.2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower.            Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close to            145B. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About 0.5 mm            to 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 3C. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 15C. Pistils: Quantity: One per            flower. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 8 mm.            Style color: Close to 144B. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal.            Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 144B.            Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘Duealkocher’ as illustrated and described.